"The anal glands of Ruep­pell’s foxes pro­vide a de­fense that is quite sim­i­lar to that of a skunk. When threat­ened by a preda­tor, a fox will hump back, raise its tail, and spray its enemy with a spe­cial se­cre­tion from the anal gland. ("Rup­pell’s fox (Vulpes ruep­pelli)", 1990; Diller and Hal­tenorth, 1980; Estes, 1992; Lind­say and Mac­Don­ald, 1986)"

Unfortunately no info on what it's like as a pet. Was posted by a friend of the owner in a group and they called the Ruppell's a jackal but locals to where these foxes live wild call them jackals but it's for sure not what we call jackals and looks like a Ruppell's to me.